How is child support calculated in Florida?

This is easily one of the most common and frequently asked question during a divorce. Florida Statutes provide a guideline for the amount of child support that the court may award.  Child support guidelines are standards used to figure out the support needed for a child and the amount that a parent has to pay.  The court will consider the income of of both parents, the child’s health care and child care costs, and the standard needs for the child. Once all the information is input into the child support guidelines worksheet and calculated, you will then have your presumed child support to be paid.

I say presumed because the courts have the ability to look at any factor it deems is in the best interest of the child.  In these special circumstances, the child support amount can be higher or lower than the guideline amounts.  The courts are able to increase or decrease this amount by 5% without making any findings.  However, any amount greater than 5% must be support by factual findings.